International

Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Coronavirus: Trump locks out all travel from Europe for 30 days and pledges financial relief to small businesses

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. would restrict all travel from Europe for the next 30 days and use executive orders to offer financial relief to individuals and small businesses in his most extensive steps to date to address the crisis of the coronavirus.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 08:50 UTC
WHO declares coronavirus a pandemic and warns about “alarming levels of inaction”

The World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday as it spreads in more than 100 countries around the world. WHO defines a pandemic as “the worldwide spread of a new disease.” The determination is based on the geographic spread of a disease, the severity of illnesses it causes, and its effects on society.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:41 UTC
Merkel warns that up to 70% of German population could contract coronavirus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that up to 70% of the country's population - some 58 million people - could contract the coronavirus. Mrs Merkel made the stark prediction at a news conference on Wednesday alongside Health Minister Jens Spahn.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:35 UTC
Coronavirus: Bank of England cuts interest rate 50 basis points to 0.25%

The Bank of England (BOE), the UK's central bank, cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points on Wednesday morning as part of an emergency response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19.
Thursday, March 12th 2020 - 07:31 UTC
Brazilian lawmaker sponsors bill to punish corrupt politicians with amputation of both hands

A lawmaker who says Brazil is not doing enough to fight rampant political corruption put forward a bill on Tuesday that would punish any politician convicted of the graft with amputation of both hands.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 10:00 UTC
Falklands updates its Travel Advisory concerning COVID-19

The Government of the Falklands updated its advice on travelling to the Islands, in response to a further change in the global COVID-19 situation. The Italian Government this week announced emergency measures across the entire country in response to the virus.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:55 UTC
Brazil downplays the threat of coronavirus: “it is overstated”

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro minimized the threat of the new coronavirus - which has killed nearly 4,000 people in more than 60 countries and tanked global financial markets, saying its destructive power has been “overstated”.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:49 UTC
Oil prices with slight recovery on Tuesday but market volatility remains

Oil, which plunged about 25% on Monday, rebounded on Tuesday along with equities and other financial markets. Brent futures rose US$2.69, or 7.8%, to US$37.05 a barrel by 2:24 p.m. EDT (1824 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$2.73, or 8.8 percent, to US$33.86.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:45 UTC
Corporate America rushes to borrow money in anticipation of a major economic downturn

From Exxon Mobil Corp to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, companies rushed to borrow more money and boost their cash coffers on Tuesday, as the market turmoil fueled by a plunge in oil prices and the global coronavirus outbreak raised the prospect of an economic downturn.
Wednesday, March 11th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Poachers in Kenya kill the only female white giraffe and her calf

Kenya's only female white giraffe and her calf have been killed by poachers, conservationists said on Tuesday, in a major blow for the rare animals found nowhere else in the world.